the gentle grafter-第15节

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lost　for　many　years。　I　recently　discovered　and　purchased　the　other　in
a　pawnin　an　obscure　museum　in　Vienna。　I　wish　to　purchase　yours。　Name
your　price。'

〃'Well；　the　great　ice　jams；　Profess！'　says　Scudder。　'Have　you　found
the　other　one？　Me　sell？　No。　I　don't　guess　Cornelius　Scudder　needs　to
sell　anything　that　he　wants　to　keep。　Have　you　got　the　carving　with
you；　Profess？'

〃I　shows　it　to　Scudder。　He　examines　it　careful　all　over。

〃'It's　the　article；'　says　he。　'It's　a　duplicate　of　mine；　every　line
and　curve　of　it。　Tell　you　what　I'll　do；'　he　says。　'I　won't　sell；　but
I'll　buy。　Give　you　2；500　for　yours。'

〃'Since　you　won't　sell；　I　will；'　says　I。　'Large　bills；　please。　I'm　a
man　of　few　words。　I　must　return　to　New　York　to…night。　I　lecture
to…morrow　at　the　aquarium。'

〃Scudder　sends　a　check　down　and　the　hotel　cashes　it。　He　goes　off　with
his　piece　of　antiquity　and　I　hurry　back　to　Andy's　hotel；　according　to
arrangement。

〃Andy　is　walking　up　and　down　the　room　looking　at　his　watch。

〃'Well？'　he　says。

〃'Twenty…five　hundred；'　says　I。　'Cash。'

〃'We've　got　just　eleven　minutes；'　says　Andy；　'to　catch　the　B。　&　O。
westbound。　Grab　your　baggage。'

〃'What's　the　hurry；'　says　I。　'It　was　a　square　deal。　And　even　if　it　was
only　an　imitation　of　the　original　carving　it'll　take　him　some　time　to
find　it　out。　He　seemed　to　be　sure　it　was　the　genuine　article。'

〃'It　was；'　says　Andy。　'It　was　his　own。　When　I　was　looking　at　his
curios　yesterday　he　stepped　out　of　the　room　for　a　moment　and　I
pocketed　it。　Now；　will　you　pick　up　your　suit　case　and　hurry？'

〃'Then；'　says　I；　'why　was　that　story　about　finding　another　one　in　the
pawn'

〃'Oh；'　says　Andy；　'out　of　respect　for　that　conscience　of　yours。　Come
on。'〃



XI

THE　MAN　HIGHER　UP

Across　our　two　dishes　of　spaghetti；　in　a　corner　of　Provenzano's
restaurant；　Jeff　Peters　was　explaining　to　me　the　three　kinds　of　graft。

Every　winter　Jeff　comes　to　New　York　to　eat　spaghetti；　to　watch　the
shipping　in　East　River　from　the　depths　of　his　chinchilla　overcoat；　and
to　lay　in　a　supply　of　Chicago…made　clothing　at　one　of　the　Fulton
street　stores。　During　the　other　three　seasons　he　may　be　found　further
westhis　range　is　from　Spokane　to　Tampa。　In　his　profession　he　takes　a
pride　which　he　supports　and　defends　with　a　serious　and　unique
philosophy　of　ethics。　His　profession　is　no　new　one。　He　is　an
incorporated；　uncapitalized；　unlimited　asylum　for　the　reception　of　the
restless　and　unwise　dollars　of　his　fellowmen。

In　the　wilderness　of　stone　in　which　Jeff　seeks　his　annual　lonely
holiday　he　is　glad　to　palaver　of　his　many　adventures；　as　a　boy　will
whistle　after　sundown　in　a　wood。　Wherefore；　I　mark　on　my　calendar　the
time　of　his　coming；　and　open　a　question　of　privilege　at　Provenzano's
concerning　the　little　wine…stained　table　in　the　corner　between　the
rakish　rubber　plant　and　the　framed　palazzio　della　something　on　the
wall。

〃There　are　two　kinds　of　graft；〃　said　Jeff；　〃that　ought　to　be　wiped　out
by　law。　I　mean　Wall　Street　speculation；　and　burglary。〃

〃Nearly　everybody　will　agree　with　you　as　to　one　of　them；〃　said　I；　with
a　laugh。

〃Well；　burglary　ought　to　be　wiped　out；　too；〃　said　Jeff；　and　I　wondered
whether　the　laugh　had　been　redundant。

〃About　three　months　ago；〃　said　Jeff；　〃it　was　my　privilege　to　become
familiar　with　a　sample　of　each　of　the　aforesaid　branches　of
illegitimate　art。　I　was　/sine　que　grata/　with　a　member　of　the
housebreakers'　union　and　one　of　the　John　D。　Napoleons　of　finance　at
the　same　time。〃

〃Interesting　combination；'　said　I；　with　a　yawn。　〃Did　I　tell　you　I
bagged　a　duck　and　a　ground…squirrel　at　one　shot　last　week　over　in　the
Ramapos？〃　I　knew　well　how　to　draw　Jeff's　stories。

〃Let　me　tell　you　first　about　these　barnacles　that　clog　the　wheels　of
society　by　poisoning　the　springs　of　rectitude　with　their　upas…like
eye；〃　said　Jeff；　with　the　pure　gleam　of　the　muck…raker　in　his　own。

〃As　I　said；　three　months　ago　I　got　into　bad　company。　There　are　two
times　in　a　man's　life　when　he　does　thiswhen　he's　dead　broke；　and
when　he's　rich。

〃Now　and　then　the　most　legitimate　business　runs　out　of　luck。　It　was
out　in　Arkansas　I　made　the　wrong　turn　at　a　cross…road；　and　drives　into
this　town　of　Peavine　by　mistake。　It　seems　I　had　already　assaulted　and
disfigured　Peavine　the　spring　of　the　year　before。　I　had　sold　600
worth　of　young　fruit　trees　thereplums；　cherries；　peaches　and　pears。
The　Peaviners　were　keeping　an　eye　on　the　country　road　and　hoping　I
might　pass　that　way　again。　I　drove　down　Main　street　as　far　as　the
Crystal　Palace　drugstore　before　I　realized　I　had　committed　ambush　upon
myself　and　my　white　horse　Bill。

〃The　Peaviners　took　me　by　surprise　and　Bill　by　the　bridle　and　began　a
conversation　that　wasn't　entirely　disassociated　with　the　subject　of
fruit　trees。　A　committee　of　'em　ran　some　trace…chains　through　the
armholes　of　my　vest；　and　escorted　me　through　their　gardens　and
orchards。

〃Their　fruit　trees　hadn't　lived　up　to　their　labels。　Most　of　'em　had
turned　out　to　be　persimmons　and　dogwoods；　with　a　grove　or　two　of
blackjacks　and　poplars。　The　only　one　that　showed　any　signs　of　bearing
anything　was　a　fine　young　cottonwood　that　had　put　forth　a　hornet's
nest　and　half　of　an　old　corset…cover。

〃The　Peaviners　protracted　our　fruitless　stroll　to　the　edge　of　town。
They　took　my　watch　and　money　on　account；　and　they　kept　Bill　and　the
wagon　as　hostages。　They　said　the　first　time　one　of　them　dogwood　trees
put　forth　an　Amsden's　June　peach　I　might　come　back　and　get　my　things。
Then　they　took　off　the　trace　chains　and　jerked　their　thumbs　in　the
direction　of　the　Rocky　Mountains；　and　I　struck　a　Lewis　and　Clark　lope
for　the　swollen　rivers　and　impenetrable　forests。

〃When　I　regained　intellectualness　I　found　myself　walking　into　an
unidentified　town　on　the　A。；　T。　&　S。　F。　railroad。　The　Peaviners　hadn't
left　anything　in　my　pockets　except　a　plug　of　chewingthey　wasn't
after　my　lifeand　that　saved　it。　I　bit　off　a　chunk　and　sits　down　on　a
pile　of　ties　by　the　track　to　recogitate　my　sensations　of　thought　and
perspicacity。

〃And　then　along　comes　a　fast　freight　which　slows　up　a　little　at　the
town；　and　off　of　it　drops　a　black　bundle　that　rolls　for　twenty　yards
in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　then　gets　up　and　begins　to　spit　soft　coal　and
interjections。　I　see　it　is　a　young　man　broad　across　the　face；　dressed
more　for　Pullmans　than　freights；　and　with　a　cheerful　kind　of　smile　in
spite　of　it　all　that　made　Phoebe　Snow's　job　look　like　a　chimney…
sweep's。

〃'Fall　off？'　says　I。

〃'Nunk；'　says　he。　'Got　off。　Arrived　at　my　destination。　What　town　is
this？'

〃'Haven't　looked　it　up　on　the　map　yet；'　says　I。　'I　got　in　about　five
minutes　before　you　did。　How　does　it　strike　you？'

〃'Hard；'　says　he；　twisting　one　of　his　arms　around。　'I　believe　that
shoulderno；　it's　all　right。'

〃He　stoops　over　to　brush　the　dust　off　his　clothes；　when　out　of　his
pocket　drops　a　fine；　nine…inch　burglar's　steel　jimmy。　He　picks　it　up
and　looks　at　me　sharp；　and　then　grins　and　holds　out　his　hand。

〃'Brother；'　says　he；　'greetings。　Didn't　I　see　you　in　Southern　Missouri
last　summer　selling　colored　sand　at　half…a…dollar　a　teaspoonful　to　put
into　lamps　to　keep　the　oil　from　exploding？'

〃'Oil；'　says　I；　'never　explodes。　It's　the　gas　that　forms　that
explodes。'　But　I　shakes　hands　with　him；　anyway。

〃'My　name's　Bill　Bassett；'　says　he　to　me；　'and　if　you'll　call　it
professional　pride　instead　of　conceit；　I'll　inform　you　that　you　have
the　pleasure　of　meeting　the　best　burglar　that　ever　set　a　gum…shoe　on
ground　drained　by　the　Mississippi　River。'

〃Well；　me　and　this　Bill　Bassett　sits　on　the　ties　and　exchanges　brags
as　artists　in　kindred　lines　will　do。　It　seems　he　didn't　have　a　cent；
either；　and　we　went　into　close　caucus。　He　explained　why　an　able
burglar　sometimes　had　to　travel　on　freights　by　telling　me　that　a
servant　girl　had　played　him　false　in　Little　Rock；　and　he　was　making　a
quick　get…away。

〃'It's　part　of　my　business；'　says　Bill　Bassett；　'to　play　up　to　the
ruffles　when　I　want　to　make　a　riffle　as　Raffles。　'Tis　loves　that　makes
the　bit　go　'round。　Show　me　a　house　with　a　swag　in　it　and　a　pretty
parlor…maid；　and　you　might　as　well　call　the　silver　melted　down　and
sold；　and　me　spilling　truffles　and　that　Chateau　stuff　on　the　napkin
under　my　chin；　while　the　police　are　calling　it　an　inside　job　just
because　the　old　lady's　nephew　teaches　a　Bible　class。　I　first　make　an
impression　on　the　girl；'　says　Bill；　'and　when　she　lets　me　inside　I
make　an　impression　on　the　locks。　But　this　one　in　Little　Rock　done　me；'
says　he。　'She　saw　me　taking　a　trolley　ride　with　another　girl；　and　when
I　came　'round　on　the　night　she　was　to　leave　the　door　open　for　me　it
was　fast。　And　I　had　keys　made　for　the　doors　upstairs。　But；　no　sir。　She
had　sure　cut　off　my　locks。　She　was　a　Delilah；'　says　Bill　Bassett。

〃It　seems　that　Bill　tried　to　break　in　anyhow　with　his　jimmy；　but　the
girl　emitted　a　succession　of　bravura　noises　like　the　top…riders　of　a
tally…ho；　and　Bill　had　to　take　all　the　hurdles　between　there　and
depot。　As　he　had　no　baggage　they　tried　hard　to　check　his　departure；
but　he　made　a　train　that　was　just　pulling　out。

〃'Well；'　says　Bill　Bassett；　when　we　had　exchanged　memories　of　our　dead
lives；　'I　could　eat。　This　town　don't　loo